Reading Fire Department
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The Reading Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Reading, Pennsylvania.[5] The department is responsible for approximately 10 square miles (26 km2) with a population of just under 100,000 as of the 2020 United States Census Bureau estimate[update].[6]
| Operational area | |
|---|---|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Pennsylvania |
| City | Reading |
| Agency overview[1][2][3] | |
| Established | March 17, 1773 |
| Annual calls | 30,660 (2019) |
| Employees | 137 (2019) |
| Annual budget | $19,600,000 (2019) |
| Staffing | Career |
| Fire chief | James Stoudt Jr. |
| IAFF | 1803 |
| Facilities and equipment[4] | |
| Battalions | 1 |
| Stations | 7 |
| Engines | 5 |
| Tillers | 2 |
| Platforms | 1 |
| Rescues | 1 |
| Ambulances | 4 |
| Wildland | 1 |
| Rescue boats | 1 |
| Website | |
| Official website | |
History
editThe Reading Fire Department was formed on March 17, 1773, as a volunteer fire department known as the Rainbow Volunteer Fire Company.[7] By 1914 the department had grown to include 14 separate volunteer companies. Today, the department operates out of 7 fire stations, including 1 EMS Station.
Beginning in April 2011 Engines 13 and 14 were disbanded due to budget cuts.[8] Starting June 30, 2015 the city will also be disbanding its non-emergency transport division which had been available to assist in transporting those confined to a wheeled chair.[9]
As of January 1, 2016, the department is now a fully career department.[citation needed]
As of February 12, 2020 the volunteer SCUBA team has been disbanded.
Stations and apparatus
editAs of October 2019[update], below is a complete list of the stations and apparatus. Staffing is only two (2) firefighters per apparatus.[4]
| Engine Company | Ladder Company | Special Unit | Spare/ Reserve Unit | Chief Unit | Neighborhood |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine 1 | Engine 6 | Center City | |||
| Engine 3 | Ladder 1(Tiller) | Brush 1 | Engine 4 | 1st Deputy Chief | Central West |
| Engine 5 | Engine 8, Ladder 2(Tiller) | 18th Ward | |||
| Engine 9 | Ladder 3(Tiller) | Northeast | |||
| Engine 7 | Foam Trailer, MCI (Mass Casualty Incident) Trailer, Rescue Boat(Zodiac) | Engine 10 | Northwest | ||
| Tower Ladder 1 | Rescue 1 | Engine 2 | 2nd Deputy Chief | South Central | |
| Medic 1, Medic 2, Medic 3, Medic 4 | Medic 5, Medic 6, Medic 7, Medic 8 | Center City |
References
edit- ^ "Call Statistics". Reading PA Fire. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ "2015 City Budget Position Listing". City of Reading PA. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ "2015 City Budget Expenditures". City of Reading PA. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ a b "Stations & Apparatus". Reading PA Fire. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ "About Us". Reading PA Fire. Archived from the original on 23 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2014-06-11.
- ^ "History". Reading PA Fire. Archived from the original on 17 June 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ "2 Engine Companies Disbanded". Reading PA Fire. 31 March 2011. Archived from the original on 29 May 2015. Retrieved 9 June 2015.
- ^ Spatz, Don (21 April 2015). "Reading to end nonemergency transportation service for people in wheelchairs". Reading Eagle. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2015.